Just to show how ahead of common herd we are, Consumer Reports followed our lead on Cold Stone Creamery with their own expose in the current March 2005 issue, page 8-9 (you can access their website www.comsumerreports.org by subscription only).
They Say:
“The sum of a Stone Cold creation was better than its parts”.
Translation:
The ice cream when sampled alone was not as good as either Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry’s or even gummy and mild Baskin Robbins. Just average. With mix-ins, taste improved dramatically covering defects in texture and adding flavor complexity.
Other conclusions: Cold Stone costs about the same as the others ounce for ounce but since the smallest serving they sell is 6 oz, each individual serving is more expensive than the others. They also tell you to be sure to grab plenty of napkins – the cups are usually filled to overflowing. We know, we know.
-mhf, guest blogger
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24Feb
2 Responses
I visited CSC for the 1st time tonight. The store is only about a month old and each time I’ve driven by the small store looked packed with a line out the door, so I haven’t stopped. Tonight, it appeared to be moderately busy, but not overflowing so I stopped with my adult son.
As I tried to absorb and consider all the flavors listed on the board, 4,5 teenagers start yelling “have you been helped?” I said, clearly, this is my first time, please give me a minute. There was not yet anyone in line behind me. Nonetheless, the kids kept yelling and offering tastes, so I asked for a taste of something that had “coconut” in the description. A young lady shouted out a name (of a different flavor). I said, “no, just a minute, let me look”. Still, kids kept yelling at me and my son. He is overwhelmed by noise and crowds and I could see he was beginning to shut down. I finally got a taste and decided I’d like a waffle bowl with a couple of different flavors. The girl started digging out about 3 times more product than I’d ever want for even 2 flavors, let alone, the 1st one I’d decided on. I began to ask her to cut the scoop in 1/2, since I wanted 2 flavors in a medium sized bowl. She looked at me as I tried to say what I wanted, and said, “I don’t know how to do that”. Meanwhile, my son had moved ahead in line and was ordering something. Also, the noise was growing, then they all start singing about waffle cones. Sheesh.
I’d observed a store in a large mall in another city nearby, and knew about the singing. But in an enclosed place, added to the already existing ruckus I was just about to scream, for real. (I’m a 53 year old female and am a psychotherapist professionally–have lived in very large cities and actually like that energy–but this was just nuts.)
Anyway, I caught my son’s eye said, (calmly) I’m going to the car. I then looked at the young lady and said, I’m not doing this-goodbye.
While in the car I called the store to get a corporate customer service number. I got the owner of the franchise. He was very nice and listened, as apparently, the girl waiting on me went to tell him what happened. Anyway, he invited me back for a chat. I previously worked retail at the Price Club in San Diego. Very busy store, to say the least. I loved it. But, after reading many other opinions on this business, on epinions.com, I don’t think I’ll spend the time to go in. It’s just not an experience I want to repeat.
thanks for listening
Man- A lady who knows what she wants. More power to ya.